A brother and sister who staged an amazing rescue to pull their mother from the jaws of a huge Nile crocodile have been hailed heroes in Zimbabwe.

Peace Magaya, 12, and his 10-year-old sister Luckmore took on the 10-foot croc when it ambushed their mum beside a river near their home in Mhondoro.

The giant reptile clamped its powerful jaws around their mother’s legs and began dragging her back into the water.

As their mum screamed for help the heroic youngsters took on the fearsome predator with just their bare hands and a stick.

Son Peace explained to local media. “We saw her being dragged into the river by a crocodile.

“This is when we found a long stick which we stretched towards her and pulled her out.

“It tried to attack her on the leg and I blocked the crocodile by inserting a hand in the mouth. Disturbing it from pulling her into the river.”

Then the croc fought back nearly dragging the whole family into the river until Luckmore jumped on its head and stuck a stick in its eyes.

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Hospital photos of the children’s mother show her with heavily bandaged legs after treatment for serious injuries suffered from the terrifying attack.

Video footage recorded after the attack in January shows the man-eating croc being dragged dead from the river after it was caught and killed.

Now Peace and Luckmore have honoured by Zimbabwe’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa who hailed them as “two young heroes”.

The pair were given a USD 5,000 (GBP 3,934) reward each and scholarships for their education.

President Mnangagwa said on Twitter. “Today I met two brave young heroes, Peace and Luckmore Magaya, from Mhondoro.

“They saved their mother from a crocodile attack.

“Inspired by their courage, I’ve taken on their education fees and awarded them USD 5,000 each. Let’s nurture such bravery and compassion in our youth.”